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HANDBOOK 

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THE    NEW  YORK    PUBLIC 

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HANDBOOK 


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THE    NEW  YORK.  PUBLIC 

LIBRARY 


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Copyright.   1916,  by 
TiiE  New   York   Public  Library 


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CONTENTS 


The  Central  Building:  pace 

Exterior     ---...--.------      7 

Sculpture  ---------------13 

The  rear  of  the  Building      ----------15 

FIRST    FLOOR 
Entrances        --------------17 

Elevators  ---------------19 

Exhibition  Room   -------------19 

Current  Periodicals  Room       ----------19 

Business  Offices  -- ------21 

Technology  Division  ------------    21 

Patents  Room        -------------    22 

The  Library  for  the  Blind    ----------    22 

SECOND    FLOOR 
Oriental  Division        ------------    23 

Jewish  Division     -------------    23 

Slavonic  Division  -------------23 

Science  Division    -------------    25 

Economics  Division     ------------    25 

Business  Offices  -------------25 

THIRD    FLOOR 
Public  Catalogue  Room     -----------    27 

Information   Desk       ------------31 

Application  for  Books      --.--------31 

The  Main  Reading  Room  -----------31 

The  Library's  Books  -      -_-      -      -      -      -      -      -      -      -      -33 

Use  of  Books  --------------39 

Stack  ----------------39 

Genealogy  Room    -- ------39 

American  History  Division     ----------39 

Reserve    Books       ------------       -41 

Prints  Room    --------------43 

Art  and,  Architecture      --------       .-.43 

Map  Room        --------------45 

Stuart  Gallery     -------------45 

General  Gallery  -------------45 

Prints   Gallery     -------------45 

Manuscript  Division  ------------46 

Music  Division      -------------    47 


The  Central  Building,  contimied: 

BASEMENT  page 

Newspaper  Room    -------------47 

Central  Circulation  Branch       ---.-----49 

Children's  Room    -------------51 

Library  School     -------------    51 

Public  Telephones      ------------53 

Business  Offices  -------------53 

Travelling  Libraries  Office   ----------53 

Circulation  Department  (branches): 

Circulation  of  Books  ------------55 

Special   Collections    ------------57 

Interbranch   Loan       ------------57 

Reading  Rooms      -------------57 

Library  for  the  Blind      -----------59 

Travelling  Libraries  ------------59 

Work  v^'ith  Children  ------------61 

Lectures  and  Meetings     -----------    ()2 

Historical  Sketch  of  the  Library: 

The  Astor  Library     ------------63 

The  Lenox  Library    ------------67 

The  Tilden  Trust      ------------67 

Consolidation         ----------__.    69 

New  York  Free  Circulating  Library  -      -      -      -      -      -      -      -71 

Other  Circulating  Libraries  ----------71 

Carnegie  Branches      ------------    71 

Management    --------------71 

Benefactors     --------------    72 

Work  of  the  Library  ------      ------    72) 


Floor  Plans,  Central  Building  ----------74 

Trustees  and  Officers  of  the  Library  --------76 

Directory  of  Branch  Libraries  ----------    77 

Publications  of  the  Library  -----------78 

The  Crotox   Reservoir     ------------79 


NOTE 

Although  the  purpose  of  this  Handbook  is  to  tell  the 
principal  facts  about  the  Library  as  an  institution,  its  chief 
use  is  likely  to  be  that  of  a  guide  to  the  Central  Building. 
The  section  about  the  Central  Building  is  therefore  given 
first  place.  Any  visitor  who  cares  to  take  the  trouble,  before 
beginning  his  tour  of  the  Building,  to  read  the  brief  historical 
sketch  (on  pages  63-72)  zvill  have  a  better  understanding  of 
the  organization  and  work  of  the  Library,  and  see  the  rcaso)is 
for  a  number  of  things  n-hich   might  not  otherwise  be  clear. 


THE   CENTRAL  BUILDING 


Open:  Week  days,  including  holidays,  9  a.  m.  to  10  p.  m. 
Sundays,  1  p.  m.  to  10  p.  m. 

(Except  where  otherwise  noted  these  are 
the  hours  of  the  special   reading  rooms.) 


THE   CENTRAL  BUILDING 


The  Central  Building  of  The  New  York  Public  Library 
is  on  the  western  side  of  Fifth  Avenue,  occupying  the 
two  blocks  between  40th  and  42nd  Streets.  It  stands  on 
part  of  the  site  of  the  old  Croton  distributing  reservoir, 
and  it  was  built  by  the  City  of  New  York  at  a  cost  of 
about  nine  milHon  dollars. 

Competitions  to  choose  the  architect  for  the  build- 
ing were  held  in  1897,  two  years  after  The  New  York 
Public  Library  was  incorporated.  The  result  of  the 
competition  was  the  selection  of  Messrs.  Carrere  and 
Hastings,  of  New  York,  as  architects.  In  1899  the  work 
of  removing  the  old  reservoir  began.  Various  legal  dif- 
ficulties and  labor  troubles  delayed  beginning  the  con- 
struction of  the  building,  but  by  November  10,  1902,  the 
work  had  progressed  so  far  that  the  cornerstone  was 
laid.  The  building  was  opened  to  the  public  ]\Iay  23, 
1911,  in  the  presence  of  the  President  of  the  United 
States,  the  Governor  of  the  State  of  New  York,  the 
Mayor  of  New  York,  and  an  audience  of  about  six 
hundred  persons. 

Exterior.  The  material  of  the  building  is  largely 
Vermont  marble,  and  the  style  that  of  the  modern 
Renaissance,  somewhat  in  the  manner  of  the  period  of 
Louis  XVI,  with  certain  modifications  to  suit  the  con- 
ditions of  to-day.  It  is  rectangular  in  shape,  390  feet 
long  and  270  feet  deep,  built  around  two  inner  courts. 
It  has  a  cellar,  basement  or  ground  floor,  and  three 
upper  floors. 

[    7    ]  ; 


z 

i- 
z 


"The  Library."  wrote  Mr.  A.  C.  David,  in  the  ArcJii- 
tcctural  Record^,  "is  undeniably  popular.  It  has  already 
taken  its  place  in  the  public  mind  as  a  building  of 
which  every  New  Yorker  may  be  proud,  and  this  opin- 
ion of  the  building  is  shared  by  the  architectural  pro- 
fession of  the  country.  Of  course,  it  does  not  please 
everybody;  but  if  American  architects  in  good  standing 
were  asked  to  name  the  one  building  which  embodied 
most  of  what  was  good  in  contemporary  American  ar- 
chitecture, The  New  York  Public  Library  would  be  the 
choice  of  a  handsome  majority.'' 

Mr.  David  continued:  "The  Library  is  not.  then,  in- 
tended to  be  a  great  monumental  building,  which  would 
look  almost  as  well  from  one  point  of  view  as  another, 
and  which  would  be  fundamentally  an  example  of  pure 
architectural  form.  It  is  designed  rather  to  face  on  the 
avenue  of  a  city,  and  not  to  seem  out  of  place  on  such 
a  site.  It  is  essentially  and  frankly  an  instance  of  street 
architecture;  and  as  an  instance  of  street  architecture  it 
is  distinguished  in  its  appearance  rather  than  imposing. 
Not,  indeed,  that  it  is  lacking  in  dignity.  The  facade 
on  Fifth  Avenue  has  poise,  as  well  as  distinction;  char- 
acter, as  well  as  good  manners.  But  still  it  does  not 
insist  upon  its  own  peculiar  importance,  as  every  monu- 
mental building  must  do.  It  is  content  with  a  somewhat 
humbler  role,  but  one  which  is  probably  more  appropri- 
ate. It  looks  ingratiating  rather  than  imposing,  and  that 
is  probably  one  reason  for  its  popularity.  It  is  intended 
for  popular  rather  than  for  official  use,  and  the  building 
issues  to  the  people  an  invitation  to  enter  rather  than  a 
command .  .  . 

"The  final  judgment  on  the  Library  will  be,  conse- 
quently, that  it  is  not  a  great  monument,  because  consid- 
erations of  architectural  form  have  in  several  conspicuous 
instances  been  deliberately  subordinated  to  the  needs  of 
the  plan.  In  this  respect  it  resembles  the  new  Museum 
of  Fine  Arts  in  Boston.  The  buildin«-  is  at  bottom  a 
compromise  between  two  groups  of  partly  antagonistic 
demands,   and   a  compromise   can   hardly   ever  Ijecome   a 

1  September,    1910. 

[  9  ] 


TERRACE  IN  FRONT  OF  LIBRARY 
Looking   South 


consummate  example  of  architectural  form.  But,  on  the 
other  hand,  Messrs.  Carrere  and  Hastings  have,  as  in 
so  many  other  cases,  made  their  compromise  success- 
ful. Faithful  as  they  have  been  to  the  fundamental 
requirement  of  adapting  the  building  to  its  purpose  as 
a  library,  they  have  also  succeeded  in  making  it  look 
well;  and  they  have  succeeded  in  making  it  look  well 
partly  because  the  design  is  ^appropriate  to  its  function 
as  a  building  in  which  books  are  stored,  read  and  dis- 
tributed. A  merely  monumental  library  always  appears 
somewhat  forbidding  and  remote.  The  Library  looks 
attractive,  and  so  far  as  a  large  building  can,  even  inti- 
mate. .  . 

"The  popularity  of  the  Library  has,  consequently, 
been  well  earned.  The  public  has  reason  to  like  it, 
because  it  offers  them  a  smiling  countenance;  and  the 
welcome  it  gives  is  merely  the  outward  and  visible  sign 
of  an  inward  grace.  When  people  enter  they  will  find 
a  building  which  has  been  ingeniously  and  carefully 
adapted  to  their  use.  Professional  architects  like  it,  be- 
cause they  recognize  the  skill,  the  good  taste  and  the 
abundant  resources  of  which  the  building,  as  a  whole, 
is  the  result;  and  while  many  of  them  doubtless  cherish 


By   Edward  ('.  Potter 


TERRACE  LOOKING  NORTH 

a  secret  thought  that  they  would  have  done  it  better, 
they  are  obHged  to  recognize  that  in  order  to  have  done 
it  better  they  w^ould  have  been  obliged  to  exhibit  a  high 
degree  of  architectural  intelligence.  In  the  realism  of 
its  plan  and  in  the  mixture  of  dignity  and  distinction 
in  the  design,  The  New  York  Public  Library  is  typical 


[  12  ] 


of  that  which  is  best  in  the  contemporary  American 
architectural  movement;  and  New  York  is  fortunate, 
indeed,  that  such  a  statement  can  be  made  of  the  most 
important  pubHc  building 
erected  in  the  city  during 
several  generations." 


y&  i 


\ 


Sculpture.  Of  the 
sculptural  designs,  the  two 
lions  on  either  side  of  the 
main  approach  are  by  E.  C. 
Potter.  They  have  been 
subjected  to  much  criti- 
cism, mainly  of  a  humor- 
ous nature,  and  in  the 
daily  press.  This  adverse 
comment  has  not  been  en- 
dorsed by  critics  of  art  and 
architecture.  Mr.  Potter 
was  chosen  for  this  work 
by  Augustus  St.  Gaudens, 
and  again,  after  Mr.  St. 
Gaudens'  death,  by  Mr. 
D.  C.  French,  also  an  emi- 
nent sculptor.  Any  lay- 
man can  satisfy  himself,  by 
a  brief  observation  of  the  ,    %^' 

building  as  a  whole,  that 
the    architectural    balance 

ROMANXE 

of  the   structure  demands  by  Paul  bartlett 

figures    of    heroic    size    to 

flank  the  main  approach.  With  that  requirement  in 
view,  the  designer  of  such  figures  has  but  a  limited 
choice  of  subject,  since  there  are  few  living  creatures 
whose  forms  possess  dignity  without  being  cumbrous. 
The    sculptor   in    this    instance    has    followed   well-estab- 

[  13  ] 


f 


lished  precedents  in  designing  the  lions  according  to 
the  canons  of  decorative  art.  They  are  as  realistic  as 
would   be   suitable    for   figures   of   this    size,   and   in   this 

position. 

The  groups  in  the 
pediments  are  by  George 
Gray  Barnard;  the  one  in 
the  northern  pediment  rep- 
resents History,  and  the 
one  in  the  southern,  Art. 
The  figures  above  the 
fountains  on  either  side 
of  the  main  entrance  are 
by  Frederick  MacMonnies; 
the  man  seated  on  the 
Sphinx,  on  the  northern 
side  of  the  entrance  rep- 
resents Truth.  On  the 
southern  side,  the  figure  of 
the  woman  seated  on  Peg- 
asus represents  Beauty. 
Above  the  figure  of  Truth 
is  this  inscription  from  the 
Apocrypha  (1  Esdras, 
chapter  3): 


I 


i 


PHILOSOPHY 
By  Paul  Bartlett 


BUT  ABOVE  ALL  THINGS 

TRUTH 

BEARETH   AWAY 

THE   VICTORY 


The  inscription  above  the  figure  of  Beauty  is: 


BEAUTY 
OLD   YET   EVER   NEW 

ETERNAL   VOICE 
AND   INWARD   WORD 


[   14  ] 


This  is  from  the  twenty-first  stanza  of  Whittier's 
poem,  "The  Shadow  and  the  Light." 

The  six  figures  above  the  main  entrance  are  by  Paul 
Bartlett;  naming  them  from  north  to  south  they  are: 
History,  Drama,  Poetry,  Religion,  Romance,  and  Phi- 
losophy. Above  the  entrance  are  inscriptions  concern- 
ing three  of  the  component  parts  of  The  New  York 
Public  Library.     They  are   as   follows: 

THE  LENOX   LIBRARY 

FOUNDED  BY 

JAMES   LENOX 

DEDICATED  TO  HISTORY 

LITERATURE  AND  THE  FINE  ARTS 

MDCCCLXX 

THE   ASTOR   LIBRARY  THE  TILDEN  TRUST 

FOUNDED  BY  FOUNDED  BY 

JOHN  JACOB  ASTOR  SAMUEL  JONES  TILDEX 

FOR  THE  TO   SERVE  THE   INTERESTS   OF 

ADVANCEMENT  OF  USEFUL  KNOWLEDGE  SCIENCE  AND  POPULAR  EDUCATION 

MDCCCXLVIII  MDCCCLXXXVI 

Beneath  these  is  this  inscription: 

MDCCCXCV       THE    NEW    YORK    PUBLIC    LIBRARY       MDCCCCII 


Of  the  dates  in  this  inscription,  the  first,  1895,  is  that 
of  the  incorporation  of  The  New  York  Public  Library; 
the  second,  1902,  is  that  of  the  laying  of  the  cornerstone. 

The  statue  of  William  Cullen  Bryant,  behind  the 
Librarv,    is   bv    Herbert    Adams. 

The  rear  of  the  building  should  be  viewed  from 
Bryant  Park.  The  long  windows  are  to  light  the  book- 
stack.  Some  critics  have  commended  the  rear  of  the 
building  very  highly.  Mr.  A.  C.  David,  in  the  article 
previously  quoted,  sa3's: 

"This  facade  is  very  plainly  treated,  without  any 
pretence   to  architectural  effect.     It  is,  indeed,   designed 

[  15  ] 


franklv  as  the  rear  of  a  structure  which  is  not  meant  to 
be  looked  at  except  on  the  other  sides.  Any  attempt, 
consequently,  at  monumental  treatment  has  been  aban- 
doned. The  building  is  designed  to  be  seen  from  Fifth 
Avenue  and  from  the  side  streets.  The  rear,  on  Bryant 
Park,  merely  takes  care  of  itself;  and  one  of  the  largest 


i  -^  SOMiihi^^fy  -.K^Si'r 


T  t,-:i.v0aJL:.^i;4:a..W, 


A  RAINY  DAY  —  FIFTH  AVENUE 
From  an   Etching  by  Charles   B.   King 


apartments  in  any  edifice  in  the  United  States  is  prac- 
tically concealed,  so  far  as  any  positive  exterior  result 
is  concerned." 

The  large  apartment  referred  to  in  this  quotation 
is  the  Main  Reading  Room  of  the  Library,  which  is 
described   farther  on   in   this   Handbook. 


[  16  ] 


-4 


< 


.#< 


■^ 


FIRST    FLOOR 

Entrances,  There  are  two  entrances  to  the  Library, 
the  main  entrance  on  Fifth  Avenue,  and  the  side  door 
on  42nd  Street,  which  gives  admission  to  the  basement, 
where  the  Central  Circulation  Room,  the  Newspaper 
Room  and  the  Central  Chil- 
dren's Room  are  to  be  found. 
On  a  first  visit,  however, 
the  sightseer  should  use  the 
main  entrance  on  Fifth  Ave- 
nue, in  order  to  see  the  lobby, 
which  rises  through  two  sto- 
ries, with  broad  staircases  to 
the  right  and  left.  The  fly- 
ing arches  of  these  staircases 
are  of  seventeen  feet  span, 
and  are  all  of  marble  with- 
out any  brick  or  metal  work 
whatever.  The  marble  used 
in  the  lobby  is  from  Vermont. 
The  ceiling  is  a  true  marble 
vault  of  forty  feet  span,  sup- 
porting itself  and  the  floor 
over  it,  with  no  metal  what- 
ever, except  some  reinforcing 
rods  buried  in  the  concrete 
filling  in  the  floor  above. 

Between  the  pillars  facing  the  entrance  are  two  in- 
scriptions.    At  the  left  is  this: 

THE   CITY    OF   NEW    YORK 
HAS   ERECTED   THIS    BUILDING 
TO   BE   MAINTAINED    FORENER 

AS    A    FREE    LIBRARY 
FOR   THE  USE   OF   THE   PEOPLE 


V 


f*"^. 


TRUTH 
By  Frederick  MacMonnies 


[  17  1 


PART   OF   iMAliN    i-AgADE 


And  at  the  right: 


ON   THE    DIFFUSION    OF   EDUCATION 

AMONG   THE    PEOPLE 

REST   THE   PRESERVATION 

AND    PERPETUATION 

OF   OUR   FREE    INSTITUTIONS 

The  latter  is  a  quotation  from  an  address  by  Daniel 
Webster  at  Madison,  Indiana,  June  1,  1837. 

[  18  ] 


Elevators  are  near  the  northern  or  42nd  Street  end 
of  the  building.  There  is  also  a  staircase  at  this  end  of 
the  building,  in  addition  to  the  staircases  near  the  main 
entrance. 

Exhibition  Room.  Directly  opposite  the  main  en- 
trance is  the  Exhibition  Room,  finished  in  white  Ver- 
mont marble.  The  ceiling  is 
supported  by  twenty-four  col- 
umns of  green  veined  white 
marble.  The  ceiling  itself 
is  elaborately  and  beautifully 
carved  in  oak.  This  room 
is  devoted  to  exhibitions  of 
rare  books,  manuscripts  and 
prints.  The  exhibitions  are 
changed  from  time  to  time, 
usually  as  often  as  three  or 
four  times  a  year.  Open  9 
a.  m.  to  6  p.  m.  on  week  days; 
1  to  5  p.  m.  Sundays, 

Current  Periodicals 
Room.  The  corridor  to  the 
south  from  the  main  entrance 
leads  to  the  Current  Periodi- 
cals Room  (Room  Number 
111).  Here  about  4,500  cur- 
rent periodicals  are  on  file.  A  hundred  of  these  are  on 
open  racks.  The  others  may  be  obtained  upon  applica- 
tion at  the  desk.  A  classified  finding  list  gives  the  reader 
the  titles  of  periodicals  kept  here.  As  this  room  is 
sometimes  confused  in  the  public  mind  with  a  popular 
or  club  reading  room,  it  should  be  remembered  that 
this  is  one   department  in   a   building  primarily   devoted 


[  19  ] 


FRONT  DOOR 


to  the  reference  work  of  the  Library.  The  few  restric- 
tions which  are  imposed  are  only  for  the  purpose  of 
keeping  the  files  intact  for  binding.  The  Branches  of 
The  New  York  Public  Library  contain  reading  rooms 
where  all  the  periodicals  are  on  open  racks. 


[  20  ] 


Business  Offices.  Following  the  corridor  leading 
south  and  then  turning  to  the  right  along  the  40th  Street 
side  of  the  building,  one  reaches  some  of  the  business 
offices  of  the  Library  —  the  office  of  the  Bursar  (No. 
104),  of  the  Building  Superintendent  (No.  103).  of  the 
Chief  of  the  Circulation  Department  (No.  102),  and 
of  the  Supervisor  of  work 
with  children  (No.  105). 
These  offices  are  open  for  any 
persons  who  have  occasion 
to  visit  them  for  business 
reasons,  but  they  are  of  no 
interest  to  sightseers.  In 
Room  100,  devoted  mainlv 
to  the  cataloguing  work  of 
the  Circulation  Department, 
there  is  a  card  catalogue  of 
all  the  books  in  this  De- 
partment, —  that  is,  in  the 
Branches  of  the  Library. 
The  Room  is  open  to  the 
public,  for  the  consultation  of 
this  catalogue,  on  week  days 
from  9  a.  m.  to  5  p.  m. 

Technology    Division. 

Following  the  corridor  lead- 
ing to  the  north  from  the  main  entrance,  there  is,  on  the 
right,  the  room  of  the  Technology  Division  (No.  115), 
devoted  to  applied  science  and  engineering.  The  col- 
lection of  books  in  this  Division,  or  under  its  control, 
numbers  about  65,000.  In  this  room,  as  in  all  the 
special  reading  rooms,  with  a  few  exceptions,  books 
are  on  open  shelves  for  the  free  access  of  readers  and 
students. 


BASE  OF  FLAGPOLE 


[  21    ] 


Patents  Room  (No.  121).  At  the  end  of  the  corri- 
dor parallel  to  42nd  Street,  is  the  Patents  Room,  a  part 
of  the  Technology  Division.  It  is  open  from  9  a.  m. 
to   6   p.  m.    on   week    days,    and    is    closed    on    Sundays. 

Patents  may  be  consulted 
evenings  and  Sundays  by 
arrangement  with  the 
technology  librarian, 
Room  115. 

The  Library  for  the 
Blind  (No.  116)  is  on  the 
inner  or  western  side  of 
the  corridor  leading  north 
from  the  main  entrance. 
This  collection  contains 
about  8,000  books  in  em- 
bossed type  for  blind 
readers,  and,  in  addition, 
5,500  music  scores,  also 
in  embossed  type.  These 
books  are  lent  not  only  in 
Greater  New  York,  but 
are  sent  free  by  mail  to 
blind  readers  in  all  parts 
of  the  States  of  New 
York,  New  Jersey,  and  Connecticut.  A  teacher  em- 
ployed by  the  Library  goes  to  homes  and  institu- 
tions in  the  City  of  New  York  to  teach  adult  blind 
persons  to  read  by  touch.  The  room  is  open  on 
week  days  from  9  a.  m.  to  5  p.  m.  A  bronze  tablet  on 
the   wall  bears   the   following  inscription: 


NORTH  WING 


[  22  ] 


THE   NEW   YORK 
FREE   CIRCULATING    LIBRARY    FOR    THE    BLIND 
WAS  FOUNDED    BY    RICHARD    RANDALL    FERRY 


THROUGH   THE    EXERTIONS  OF   CLARA   A.    WILLIAMS 
THIS   LIBRARY   WAS   PERMANENTLY   ESTABLISHED 

INCORPORATED,   JUNE   3,    1895 
TRANSFERRED   TO   THE    N.    Y.    PUBLIC    LIBRARY,    FEB.    21,    1903 

TRUSTEES 
WILLIAM   B.    WAIT  CLARA   A.    WILLIAMS 

CLARK   B.    FERRY 

RICHARD    RANDALL   FERRY  CHARLES    W.    WESTON 

The  trustees  named  on  the  tablet  are,  of  course, 
those  of  the  former  organization:  the  "New  York  Free 
Circulating   Library    for   the   Blind." 


SECOND   FLOOR 

On  the  second  floor  a  corridor  runs  along  the  front 
of  the  building,  turning  into  short  corridors  at  the  north 
and  south,  and  also  into  a  central  corridor.  From  these 
corridors  open  studies,  offices  and  special  reading  rooms. 
In  the  central  corridor,  four  studies  open  on  the  right, 
while  the  fifth  room  on  this  side  is  devoted  to  the 

Oriental  Division  (No.  219),  with  a  collection  of 
about  20,000  books  and  pamphlets  in  Arabic,  Persian, 
Turkish,  Chinese,  Japanese,  and  other  eastern  languages. 
Open  9  a.  m.  to  6  p.  m.  week  days. 

Jewish  Division  (No.  217).  Opposite  the  Oriental 
Division,  on  the  south  side  of  this  central  corridor,  is  the 
reading  room  devoted  to  the  Jewish  Division.  There 
are  about  24,000  books  in  the  collection. 

Slavonic  Division.  The  room  devoted  to  the  Sla- 
vonic Division  (No.  216)  is  also  on  the  south  side  of 
the  central  corridor.  The  resources  of  this  Division, 
books  and  periodicals  in  the  various  Slavonic  languages, 
number  about  23,000. 

[  23  ] 


3 


PS 


Science  Division.  On  the  corridor  parallel  to  Fifth 
Avenue,  and  leading  north  from  the  main  staircase,  the 
room  on  the  right  contains  the  Science  Division  (No. 
225).  There  are  about  35,000  books  under  the  control 
of  this  Division. 

Economics  Division.  From  the  corridor  on  the 
northern  or  42nd  Street  end  of  the  building  open  the 
rooms  devoted  to  Public  Documents  (No.  229)  and 
Economics  and  Sociology.  These  were  formerly  sepa- 
rate divisions,  but  now  united,  and  the  entrance  is 
through  Room  229.  The  resources  of  the  Division 
(including  the  large  collection  of  Public  Documents) 
number   about   400,000   books    and    pamphlets. 

Business  Offices.  The  rooms  opening  from  the 
corridor  running  south  from  the  main  staircase  are 
mostly  business  offices,  devoted  to  the  administration 
of  the  Library.  They  are  of  little  interest  to  sight- 
seers, but  are  open  to  any  persons  who  have  occasion 
to  visit  them.  They  include,  on  the  front  of  the  build- 
ing, a  lecture  room  (No.  213),  the  office  of  the  Director 
of  the  Library  (No.  210),  and  the  meeting  room  of  the 
Board  of  Trustees  (No.  205).  On  the  inner  or  western 
side  of  the  corridor  are:  a  study  (No.  214).  the  office  of 
the  Editor  of  Publications  (No.  212),  and  of  the  Ref- 
erence Librarian  (No.  211).  The  Trustees'  Room  may 
be  seen  on  special  application  at  the  Director's  office. 
Over   the    mantelpiece    in    this    room    is    the    inscription: 

THE  CITY  OF  NEW  YORK  HAS  ERECTED  THIS 
BUILDING  FOR  THE  FREE  USE  OF  ALL  THE  PEOPLE 

M  C  M  X 

I    LOOK   TO   THE   DIFFUSION   OF   LIGHT   AND   EDUCATION 

AS   THE   RESOURCE   MOST   TO    BE   RELIED   ON    FOR 

AMELIORATING   THE   CONDITION    PROMOTING   THE   VIRTUE 

AND   ADVANCING   THE   HAPPINESS   OF   MAN 

THOMAS   JEFFERSON 

[  25  ] 


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On  the  corridor  leading  west,  and  running  along  the 
40th  Street  end  of  the  building,  are  workrooms,  open 
only  to  visitors  having  business  engagements.  These 
rooms  are  the  office  of  the  Order  Division  (No.  204) 
and  of  the  Cataloguing  and  Accessions  Divisions  (No. 
200  and  No.  201). 


SOUTH  COURT 


THIRD    FLOOR 

The  most  important  room  on  the  third  floor  and, 
indeed,  the  centre  of  activity  of  the  entire  Reference 
Department  of  the  Library,  is  the  Main  Reading  Room, 
approached  through  the  Public  Catalogue  Room.  The 
latter  opens  from  the  western  side  of  the  corridor  at 
the   head  of   the   staircases. 

Public  Catalogue  Room.  This  room  (No.  315)  con- 
tains  the   catalogue  of  the   books   in   the   Reference   De- 

[  27  ] 


NORTHWEST  CORNER 


partment  of  the  Library,  —  that  is,  the  books  available 
to  readers  in  the  Main  Reading  Room  and  in  the  spe- 
cial reading  rooms  of  the  Central  Building.  It  is  a 
dictionary  catalogue,  on  cards,  in  which  the  books  are 
entered  by  author,  by  subject,  and  by  title,  when  the 
title  is  distinctive.  The  catalogue  is  in  trays  arranged 
in  alphabetical  order,  beginning  on  the  northwest  wall 
of  the  room  and  running  to  the  right.  At  the  end  of 
this  catalogue,  and  on  the  southern  side  of  the  room, 
is  an  author  catalogue  of  the  books  in  the  Central  Cir- 
culation Branch  and  Central  Children's  Room,  Rooms 
78  and  80,  in  the  basement.  At  the  end  of  this  second 
catalogue  and  separated  from  it  by  a  public  telephone, 
is  a  catalogue  of  the  books  in  the  Library  of  Congress 
for  which  printed  catalogue  cards  have   been   issued. 

Near  the  entrance  to  the  Public  Catalogue  Room, 
and   at   the   right,   is   a   bronze    tablet: 

BORN   A.D.    MDCCCXIII 

(Bas-relief  of  Sir  Isaac  Pitman) 

TABLET   ERECTED   A.D.    MCMXIII 

TO    COMMEMORATE 

THE 

ONE   HUNDREDTH   ANNIVERSARY 

OF   THE    BIRTH   OF 

SIR    ISAAC    PITMAN 

AND   IN    RECOGNITION    OF   THE 

IMPORTANT   COLLECTION    OF 

SHORTHAND    LITERATURE 

IN    THE 

NEW   YORK   PUBLIC   LIBRARY 

Over  the  door  leading  from  the  Public  Catalogue 
Room  to  the  Main  Reading  Room  is  inscribed  the 
famous   quotation    from    Milton's   "Areopagitica": 

A  good   Booke 

is  the  pretious  life-blood  or  a 

mafter  fpirit,  embalm'd   and   trealur'd 

up  on  purpofe  to  a  life  beyond  life 

[  29  ] 


ENTRANCE  LOBBY 


Information  Desk.  The  Information  Desk  of  the 
Library  is  in  the  Public  Catalogue  Room,  and  here  in- 
quiries should  be  made  about  the  resources  and  regula- 
tions of  the  Library,  the  use  of  the  catalogue,  and  any 
other  matter  upon  which  the  visitor 
may  have  a  question  to  ask. 

Application  for  books  to  be  used 
in  the  Main  Reading  Room  should  be 
made  in  the  Public  Catalogue  Room. 
The  applicant  writes  his  request  upon 
the  slip  furnished  for  the  purpose,  and 
files  it  at  the  desk  in  this  room.  A 
numbered  ticket  is  handed  him,  which 
he  takes  into  the  Main  Reading  Room, 
going  to  the  right  if  the  ticket  number 
is  odd;  to  the  left  if  the  number  is  even. 
He  then  waits  at  the  indicator  at  the 
western  end  of  the  delivery  desk  until 
the  number  on  his  ticket  appears. 
This  means  that  his  books  are  ready 
for  him  at  the  desk.  If,  however,  he 
prefers  first  to  select  a  seat  in  the  Main 
Reading  Room,  he  should  write  the 
number  of  that  seat  on  his  application, 
and  his  books  will  be  left  at  that  seat, 
if  he  is  there  to  receive  them. 

The  Main  Reading  Room,  in  the 
rear,  extends  nearly  the  entire  length 
of  the  building.     It  has  a   floor  area 
of    half    an    acre,    and    is    divided    in    the    middle    by    a 
booth  from  which  books  are  delivered.     There  are  seats 
for  768  readers.     Mr.   A.   C.   David,   in   the   article   pre- 
viously  quoted   from   the   Architectural  Record,   says: 

"The   Main  Reading  Room  is  one  of  the  most  spa- 


[  31  ] 


DOOR  OF  EXHIBITION  ROOM 


cious  rooms  in  the  world  —  beautifully  proportioned, 
lighted  by  a  series  of  windows  on  both  the  long  sides 
of  the  room,  and  entirely  accessible  to  the  stacks.  To 
have  obtained  a  room  of  these  dimensions,  so  excel- 
lently adapted  to  its  purpose  in  every  respect,  was  a 
great   triumph    for    the    architects." 

The  shelves  along  the  walls  contain  a  collection  of 
about  25,000  volumes.  These  books  are  not  only  the 
usual  works  of  reference,  —  dictionaries,  encyclopaedias, 
and  the  like,  but  they  also  include  a  good  working  li- 
brary of  general  literature,  —  philosophy,  religion,  sci- 
ence, history,  law,  biography,  standard  novels,  poetry, 
and  the  drama.  These  books  are  for  the  free  use  of 
anyone  in  this  room,  without  the  need  of  making  any 
application.  The  reader  has  only  to  select  the  book 
he  wishes,  and  to  take  it  to  a  table,  where  he  may 
consult  it.  When  he  has  finished  he  should  leave  it 
on  the  table,  rather  than  attempt  to  return  it  to  its 
place,   since   a   misplaced   book   is   temporarily   lost. 

The  Library's  Books.  It  should  be  kept  in  mind 
that  the  books  of  the  Reference  Department  are  all  in 
the  Central  Building,  and  must  all  be  used  in  that 
building.  The  great  body  of  them  are  in  the  stack 
beneath  the  Main  Reading  Room.  In  addition,  there 
are  the  books  in  the  Main  Reading  Room  itself,  and  in 
the  special  reading  rooms  in  other  parts  of  the  build- 
ing. Books  and  pamphlets  number,  altogether,  about 
one   million    and   a   quarter. 

The  books  in  the  Central  Circulation  Room  and  in 
the  Children's  Room  in  the  basement,  the  books  in  the 
Library  for  the  Blind,  those  in  the  Travelling  Libra- 
ries office  in  the  basement,  and  those  in  the  forty- 
three  Branch  Libraries  in  other  parts  of  the  Boroughs 
of    Manhattan,    The    Bronx,    and    Richmond    arc    under 

I  23  1 


ENTRANCE  LOBBY,  LOOKING  WEST 


control  of  the  Circulation  Department  of  the  Library. 
Nearly  all  of  these  books  are  lent  to  borrowers  for 
home   use.     They  number  about    1,100,000  volumes. 

In   regard    to    the    books    in    the    Reference    Depart- 
ment,   it    is    correct    to    say    that    in    them    the    Library 


SOUTH  SIDE  OF  EXHIBITION  ROOM 


owns  a  well-balanced  collection  for  research  in  nearly 
every  branch  of  human  knowledge.  The  books  formerly 
in  the  Astor  and  Lenox  Libraries  compose  the  founda- 
tion of  the  collection.  The  subjects  most  adequately 
represented  are  those  of  American  history,  of  topics  con- 
nected with  the  American  continents,  and  the  economic 

[  35  ] 


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and  social  sciences.  There  are  also  extensive  sets  of 
public  documents,  of  the  publications  of  learned  insti- 
tutions, as  well  as  comprehensive  files  of  periodicals. 
In  recent  years  not  so  much  attempt  has  been  made 
to   get   publications   on   law,   theology,   medicine   and   bi- 


PANEL  IN  CEILING,  EXHIBITION  ROOM 

ology,  since  there  are  special  libraries,  elsewhere  in 
the  City,  where  these  subjects  are  covered.  The  reader 
is  nevertheless  sure  to  find  in  the  special  reading 
rooms,  and  in  the  books  which  may  be  brought  to 
the  Main  Reading  Room  for  his  use,  the  fundamental 
printed  sources  in  practically  every  field  of  knowledge. 


[  ^1  ] 


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DOOR  IN  SCREEN 
Main  Reading  Room 


Use  of  Books.  The  Library's  situation  in  the  me- 
tropolis, and  its  freedom  from  restrictions  (according 
to  the  custom  of  American  libraries)  have  caused  the 
use  of  its  books  to  become 
two  or  three  times  greater 
than  that  of  any  of  the 
other  large  libraries  of  the 
world;  the  average  daily 
number  of  readers  is  more 
than  double  the  number  in 
any  foreign  library. 

Stack.  Underneath  the 
Main  Reading  Room  is  the 
steel  stack,  in  seven  decks, 
containing  334,500  feet,  or 
63.3  miles,  of  shelving.  It 
has  room  for  about  2,500,000 
books.  (The  special  reading 
rooms  have  a  shelf  capacity 
for  about  500,000  books.) 
The  books  in  the  stack  are 
brought  by  electric  elevators 
to  the  Main  Reading  Room, 
as  they  are  called  for  by 
readers.  The  stack  is  not 
open  to   readers   or  visitors. 

Genealogy  Room.  At 
the  northern  end  of  the  Main 
Reading  Room  is  the  room 
devoted  to  Local  History 
and  Genealogy  (No.  328). 
The  collection  numbers  about  thirty  thousand  volumes. 

American  History  Division.  At  the  southern  end 
of  the  Main  Reading  Room  is  the  room  devoted  to 
American  history  (No.  300).     It  is  one  of  the  strongest 


[  S9] 


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divisions  of  the  Library,  since  its  books  are  so  distin- 
guished among  collections  of  this  kind  as  to  make  them 
of  the  greatest  importance  to  students  and  scholars  in 
the  field  of  American  history.  The  foundation  of  this 
collection  was  formed  by  the  books  on  American  his- 
tory owned  by  James  Lenox,  the  founder  of  the  Lenox 
Library,  one  of  the  components  of  the  present  New 
York  Public  Library.  The  tablet  in  the  floor  near  the 
entrance   of   Room   300  is   inscribed  as   follows: 

IN  MEMORY  OF 

JAMES  LENOX 

A  NATIVE  AND  RESIDENT  OF  THE  CITY  OF  NEW  YORK 

BORN  AUGUST  19  1800 

DIED  FEBRUARY  17  1880 

THE  TRUSTEES  OF 

THE  NEW  YORK  PUBLIC  LIBRARY 

ASTOR  LENOX  AND  TILDEN  FOUNDATIONS 

IN  PERFORMANCE  OF  A  GRATEFUL  DUTY 

HAVE  CAUSED  THIS  TABLET  TO  BE  PLACED 

HERE  AMONG  THE  BOOKS  HE  CHERISHED 

AS  A  MEMORIAL  OF  HIS  SERVICES 

TO  THE  HISTORY  OF  AMERICA 

From  the  corridors  on  the  front  and  sides  of  the 
third  floor,  rooms  open  in  the  following  order,  begin- 
ning with  the  corridor  at  the  south,  running  along  the 
40th    Street    side    of    the    building: 

Reserve  Books  (No.  303):  In  this  room  are  kept 
the   rare   and  reserved  books  of  the   Library. 

Among  the  foremost  treasures  of  the  Library  are: 
the  Gutenberg  Bible  (printed  by  Gutenberg  and  Fust 
about  1455,  one  of  the  earliest  books  printed  from 
movable  types);  the  Coverdale  Bible  (1535);  Tyndale's 
Pentateuch  (1530)  and  New  Testament  (1536);  and 
Eliot's  Indian  Bible.  In  fact,  the  collection  of  early 
Bibles  in  English  is  one  of  the  great  collections  of 
the    kind     in    existence.      The    Library    also    owns    four 

[  41  ] 


BOOK  STACK 
(Showing  Half  the  Length  of  One  Deck) 

copies  of  the  First  Folio  Shakespeare  (1623);  several 
copies  of  the  Second,  Third,  and  Fourth  Folios  (1632, 
1663-64,  1685);  thirty-five  editions  of  the  Shakespeare 
Quartos,  before  1709;  eight  vv^orks  printed  by  William 
Caxton  (1475-90);  the  Bay  Psalm  Book,  the  first 
book  printed  in  the  territory  now  comprised  in  the 
United  States  (Cambridge,  1640);  and  the  Doctrina 
Christiana,   printed   in   Mexico   in    1544. 

[  42  ] 


f 


One  contribution  to  the  Library  has  been  com- 
memorated by  a  tablet  near  the  door  of  this  room. 
It  bears   the   inscription: 

THE 

BAILEY   MYERS   COLLECTION 

OF 

AMERICANA 

FORMED    BY 

THEODORUS    BAILEY   MYERS 

OF 

NEW   YORK   CITY 

1821-1888 

GIVEN   BY   HIS   WIDOW,   DAUGHTER 

AND   DAUGHTER-IN-LAW  AS   A 

MEMORIAL   OF   HIM   AND   HIS    SON 

THEODORUS    BAILEY   MYERS   MASON 

LIEUTENANT   COMMANDER 

UNITED    STATES   NAVY 

Opposite,  in  Room  304,  is  the  office  of  the  Bibli- 
ographer of  the  Library,  and  of  the  Chief  of  the 
American    History    Division. 

Prints  Room.  Opening  from  the  corridor  on  the 
east  (the  front)  of  the  Library  is  the  Prints  Room  (No. 
308).  Open  9  a.  m.  to  6  p.  m.  week  days;  1  to  6  p.  m. 
Sundays.  Here  is  the  Samuel  P.  Avery  Collection  of 
18,000  prints.  They  are  mainly  French  and  other  mod- 
ern etchings  and  lithographs.  There  is  also  a  large 
collection  of  modern  American  prints,  a  collection  of 
Japanese  prints  in  color,  and  a  collection  of  old  prints 
illustrating  the  development  of  reproductive  graphic  art 
to  the   present   day. 

Art  and  Architecture.  Room  313  is  the  reading 
room  devoted  to  Art  and  Architecture.  The  resources 
of  the  collection,  about  25,000  books,  deal  with  art  and 
craftsmanship  in  the  widest  sense. 

[  43  ] 


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Map  Room.  On  the  inner,  or  western,  side  of 
this  corridor,  opposite  Room  313,  is  the  Map  Room 
(No.  312),  a  part  of  the  American  History  Division. 
Open  9  a.  m.   to  6  p.  m.   on  week  days. 

Stuart  Gallery.  Opening  from  the  corridor  on 
the  front  of  the  building,  and  directly  opposite  the 
entrance  to  the  Public  Catalogue  Room,  is  the  room 
devoted  to  the  Stuart  Collection  (No.  316).  Open  9 
a.  m.  to  6  p.  m.  on  week  days.  Closed  on  Sundays. 
This  contains  pictures,  books,  and  other  objects  of  art 
bequeathed  by  Mrs.  Robert  L.  Stuart.  On  the  east  wall 
of    the    Gallery    is    a    tablet    with    this    inscription: 

THE 

ROBERT  L.  STUART 

COLLECTION 

THE  GIFT  OF  HIS  WIDOW, 

MRS.  MARY  STUART. 

BEQUEATHED   TO   THE 

LENOX   LIBRARY 

1892. 

Catalogues  of  the  paintings  are  on  sale  for  ten 
cents. 

General  Gallery.  The  next  room  to  the  north  is 
the  general  gallery  (No.  318).  (Sign  reads  "Picture  Gal- 
lery.") The  pictures  in  this  room  are  largely  from  the 
collection  of  James  Lenox.  The  catalogue,  mentioned  in 
the  preceding  paragraph,  gives  a  list  of  them,  and  a 
brief  description  of  many.  Open  9  a.  m.  to  6  p.  m.  week 
days  and  1  to  5  p.  m.  Sundays. 

Prints  Gallery.  Opening  from  No.  318,  and  also 
from  the  north  end  of  the  front  corridor,  is  the  Prints 
Gallery  (No.  321).  Here  are  held  exhibitions  of 
prints,  changed  several  times  each  year.  Open  9  a.  m. 
to  6  p.  m.   on  week  days  and   1   to   5  p.  m.   Sundays. 

[  45  ] 


Manuscript  Division.  On  the  west  or  inner  side 
of  the  front  corridor  is  the  research  room  of  the 
Manuscript  Division  (No.  319).  This  is  open  only  to 
those  who  hold  cards  signed  by  the  Director  of  the 
Library.  Open  9  a.  m.  to  6  p.  m.  week  days.  The 
Division  has  a  good  selection  of  Oriental  manuscripts, 
and     of     European     illuminated     manuscripts.       Among 


ONE  OF  THE  SPECIAL  READING  ROOMS 
(Genealogy  and  Local  History) 


these  older  ones  may  be  mentioned  an  "Evangelista- 
rium,  sive  Lectiones  ex  Evangeliis,"  a  French-Carlo- 
vingian  manuscript  on  200  vellum  leaves,  date  about 
870  A.  D.  Another  manuscript  of  special  note  is  the 
work  of  Giulio  Clovio,  his  "Christi  Vita  ab  Evange- 
listis  descripta,"  sometimes  called  "The  Towneley  Lec- 
tionary."  It  was  made  for  Alexander,  Cardinal  Farnese, 
and  was  presented  by  him  to  Pope  Paul  III. 

The    collection    of   American    historical    manuscripts 

[  46  ] 


ranks  as  one  of  the  best  in  the  United  States.  Here, 
for  example,  is  the  original  manuscript  of  Washing- 
ton's "Farewell  Address,"  a  copy  of  the  Declaration 
of  Independence  in  Jefferson's  autograph,  and  many 
other  letters  and  original  sources  for  research.  Lists 
of  the  principal  manuscripts  have  been  printed  in  the 
Bulletin  of  The  New  York  Public  Library  (Volume  5, 
page  306-336,   and  volume   19,   page    135-162). 

Music  Division.  Turning  to  the  west,  the  cor- 
ridor along  the  42nd  Street  side  of  the  building  leads 
to  the  Music  Division  (No.  324),  which  opens  from 
the  north  side  of  the  corridor.  It  is  open  week  days 
from  9  a.  m.  to  6  p.  m.  The  resources  of  the  Division 
number  about  twenty-two  thousand  volumes  and  pieces 
of  music. 

A  tablet  at  the  north  end  of  the  room  bears  this 
inscription: 

DREXEL    MUSICAL    LIBRARY. 
THE   LEGACY  OF  JOSEPH   W.   DREXEL   1888. 

On  the  east  wall  is  a  tablet  reading  as  follows: 

IN   MEMORY   OF 

185S         JULIAN    EDWARDS         1910 

WHOSE   COLLECTION   OF   MUSIC   SCORES 

AND   BOOKS    WAS   GIVEN   TO  THIS   LIBRARY 

BASEMENT 

The  basement  contains  three  rooms  of  public  in- 
terest. The  entrance  from  42nd  Street  is  the  most 
convenient  way  to  reach  these  rooms  from  the  outside 
of  the  building,  but  a  visitor  on  one  of  the  upper 
floors  should  take  the  elevator  or  the  staircase,  both 
near  the   north   end  of  the   building. 

Newspaper  Room.  In  the  Newspaper  Room  (No. 
84)    about    sixty    daily    newspapers    are    on    racks    for 

[  47  ] 


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free  use,  without  the  need  of  any  appHcation.  About 
twenty-five  foreign  newspapers  are  obtainable  upon 
appHcation  at  the  desk.  A  bulletin  board  at  the  right 
of  the  entrance  gives  full  information  about  these  and 
other   resources   of   the    Newspaper    Room. 

On  the  western  side  of  the  entrance  corridor, 
near  the  door  of  the  Circulating  Library,  is  a  bronze 
tablet   with   the    following   inscription: 

[Seal    of    The    New    York    Public    Library] 

THIS   BUILDING   IS   ERECTED 

UPON  A   PART   OF  THE   COMMON   LANDS 

WHICH   WERE   GRANTED    BY   ROYAL  CHARTER 

TO   THE   MAYOR   ALDERMEN   AND   COMMONALTY 

OF   THE   CITY    OF    NEW    YORK 

IN    1686, 

THE    SECOND    YEAR    OF    THE    REIGN    OF    JAMES    THE    SECOND 

KING   OF    ENGLAND. 

THE    CITY   OF   NEW   YORK    IN    1897, 

WILLIAM   L.    STRONG   BEING   MAYOR, 

UNDERTOOK   TO   CONSTRUCT, 

AT  THE   PUBLIC   EXPENSE, 

A   BUILDING   UPON   THIS   SITE 

TO    BE   USED   AND    OCCUPIED    BY 

THE   NEW   YORK   PUBLIC    LIBRARY, 

ASTOR,    LENOX    AND   TILDEN    FOUNDATIONS 

SO   LONG   AS    IT   SHOULD   MAINTAIN    HEREIN 

A    FREE     LIBRARY    AND     READING    ROOM     FOR    THE    PEOPLE. 

WORK   WAS    BEGUN    BY   THE   CITY    IN    1899, 

ROBERT   ANDERSON   VAN   WYCK    BEING   M.\YOR. 

THE  CORNERSTONE   WAS    LAID    IN    1902. 

SETH    LOW   BEING   MAYOR. 

THE    BUILDING    WAS   COMPLETED    IN    1909, 

GEORGE   BRINTON    McCLELLAN    BEING   MAYOR. 

IT     WAS    OCCUPIED    AND    OPENED    TO    THE    PUBLIC     IN     1911 

WILLIAM   JAY   GAYNOR   BEING   MAYOR. 

Central  Circulation  Branch  (sign  over  door  reads. 
"Circulating  Library")  (No.  80).  This  is  one  of  the 
forty-four   Branches  of  The   New   York   Public   Library, 

[  49] 


NORTH  STAIRCASE 

intended  for  the  circulation  of  books  for  home  use. 
In  this  instance  alone  the  Branch  is  situated  in  the 
Central  Building  and  is  supported  by  the  funds  of  the 
Library  and  not  by  the  City.  The  room  is  interesting 
because   of   its   activity.     The   view  of   it   reproduced   in 


[  50  ] 


this  book  had  to  be  taken  when  but  few  people  were 
there,  but  during  afternoons  and  evenings,  especially  in 
the  autumn,  winter,  and  spring  months,  the  room  is 
frequently  over-crowded  with  readers  and  borrowers 
of  books.  As  over  500,000  books  were  borrowed  from 
this  one  room  during  1915  it  may  be  said  that  there 
are  few,  if  any,  busier  library  rooms  in  the  country, 
or,  indeed,  in  the  world.  There  is  a  collection  of 
over  50,000  books,  with  a  reserve  collection  of  some- 
what more  than  70,000.  The  room  is  open  9  a.  m.  to 
10  p.  m.  week  days,  including  all  holidays,  and  2  to 
6  p.  m.   on   Sundays. 

Children's  Room.  Near  the  42nd  Street  entrance  a 
corridor  runs  east  to  the  Children's  Room  (No.  78).  The 
visitor  to  the  building  should  not  fail  to  see  this 
room,  with  its  attractive  furnishings,  its  collections  of 
brightly    colored    picture-books,    and    pictures. 

The  object  of  the  room  is  not  only  to  perform 
the  usual  work  of  a  children's  room,  but  also  to  in- 
terest and  help  parents  and  others  in  selecting  chil- 
dren's reading.  Authors,  artists,  and  publishers  come 
here  for  information  about  books  for  children.  An- 
other purpose  is  to  furnish  suggestions  for  similar 
rooms  elsewhere.  A  number  of  libraries,  in  other 
parts  of  the  world,  have  adopted  suggestions  which 
they  found  here.  Exhibitions  on  various  subjects  are 
held  from  time  to  time,  and  there  is  a  collection  of 
children's  books  of  the  old-fashioned  kind.  Open  9 
a.  m.   to   6   p.  m.   week   days. 

Library  School.  Here  a  two  years'  course  in  train- 
ing for  library  work  is  given  to  a  body  of  students 
averaging  about  seventy-five  in  number.  The  office  of 
the    School    (where    inquiries    should    be    made)    is    in 

[  51  ] 


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Room  73,  on  the  inner  or  western  side  of  the  corridor 
which  runs  along  the  front  of  the  building,  parallel  to 
Fifth  Avenue.  The  Library  School  class  room,  not 
open  to  the  public,  is  on  the  other  side  of  the  cor- 
ridor. 

Public  Telephones.  The  public  telephones  are  in 
Room  70,  on  the  inner  or  western  side  of  the  front 
corridor. 

Business  Offices.  The  rest  of  the  basement  floor 
is  occupied  by  offices,  open  only  to  those  who  have 
business  engagements  therein.  The  offices  include  that 
for  Printing  and  Binding  (No.  58),  and  the  Shipping 
Room  (No.  51).  In  the  Printing  Office  the  catalogue 
cards  of  the  Library,  printed  forms,  and  all  the  Li- 
brary's publications  are  printed.  For  the  publications, 
see  page  7S. 

Travelling  Libraries  Office.  The  entrance  to  the 
Travelling  Libraries  office  is  from  Bryant  Park,  at  the 
southwest  corner  of  the  building.  The  office  itself  is 
not  of  interest  to  sightseers.  As  it  is  under  control  of 
the  Circulation  Department,  its  work  is  described  on 
page  59. 


THE   CIRCULATION    DEPARTMENT 


Branch  Libraries  —  Hours  of  Opening:  Central  Cir- 
culation open  9  a.  m.  to  10  p.  m.  every  week  day, 
2  to  6  p.  m.  on  Sundays.  Children's  Room  9  a.  m. 
to  6  p.  m.  on  week  days.  Library  for  the  Blind, 
Travelling  Libraries,  and  offices  open  9  a.  m.  to 
5  p.  m.  on  week  days. 

Other  Branches,  9  a.  m.  to  9  p.  m.  on  week  days. 
Exceptions  as  follows:  Central  Circulation  and 
branches  in  Carnegie  buildings  open  full  hours  on 
all  holidays;  other  branches  closed  on  January  1, 
May  30,  July  4,  December  25,  presidential  election 
day,  and  Thanksgiving;  after  6  p.  m.  on  February  22 
and  Christmas  eve;  after  5  p.  m.  on  election  days 
other  than  presidential   elections. 


1 


CIRCULATION    DEPARTMENT 


The  Circulation  Department  of  the  Library  per- 
forms its  work  through  forty-four  Branch  Libraries  in 
the  Boroughs  of  Manhattan,  Richmond  (Staten  Island), 
and  The  Bronx.  (Each  of  the  other  two  Boroughs 
of  Greater  New  York,  Brooklyn  and  Queens,  has  its 
own  Public  Library.)  These  Branches  are  in  separate 
buildings,  with  the  exception  of  the  Circulation  Branch 
in  the  Central  Building.  That  is  supported  by  the 
funds  of  the  Library;  all  the  others  are  maintained  by 
the  City.  Thirty-seven  of  the  Branch  buildings  were 
erected  from  funds  given  by  Mr.  Andrew  Carnegie. 
The  collections  of  books  in  the  Branches  number  from 
ten  to  fifty  thousand,  with  a  total  of  about  L  100.000 
books. 

Each  Branch  has  an  adult  department,  with  its 
collection  of  books  for  adult  readers,  a  children's  room, 
and  a  reading  room  with  current  magazines,  reference 
books,  and,  in  many  cases,  daily  newspapers.  Many 
of    the    Branches    contain    lecture    or    assembly    rooms. 

These  Branch  Libraries  serve  a  population  esti- 
mated at  above  three  million.  The  Branches  are 
spread  over  a  large  territory,  and  from  the  northern- 
most of  them,  in  the  Borough  of  The  Bronx,  to  the 
one  farthest  south,  on  Staten  Island,  the  distance  is  about 
forty  miles.     A  directory  of  Branches  is  on  page  77 . 

Circulation  of  Books.  The  New  York  Public  Li- 
brary, according  to  the  general  custom  of  American 
libraries,  imposes  few  restrictions  upon  its  readers. 
This  fact,   together  with  its   situation   in  the   metropolis 

[  55  ] 


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of  the  country,  is  the  reason  why  it  is  probably  used 
more  than  any  other  hbrar}-  under  one  management 
in  the  world.  The  use  is  constantly  growing.  In 
1915  there  were  borrowed  from  the  Branch  Libraries, 
for  home   use,    10,384,579  books. 

Special  Collections.  There  are  books  in  foreign 
languages,  especially  French  and  German,  in  all  the 
Branches.  The  principal  collections  of  books  in  for- 
eign tongues  other  than  French  and  German,  are  these: 


Language 


Branch 


Bohemian      -     -     - 

■     Webster. 

Chinese    -     -     -     - 

-     Chatham  Square. 

Danish     -     -     -     . 

-     Tottenville.  125th  Street. 

Dutch       -     -     -     - 

■     Muhlenlierg. 

Finnish     -     -     -     . 

■     125th  Street. 

Flemish    -     -     -     - 

■     Muhlenberg. 

Greek  (Modern)    - 

-     Chatham  Square. 

Hebrew    -     -     -     - 

■     Seward  Park,  Aguilar. 

Hungarian    -     -     - 

■     Tompkins    Square,    Hamilton    Fish    Park, 

Yorkville,  Woodstock. 

ItaHan      -     -     -     . 

-     Hudson  Park,  Aguilar,  Bond  Street. 

Norwegian    -     -     ■ 

■     Tottenville. 

Pohsh       -     -    -     . 

■     Rivington  Street,  Tompkins  Square, 

Columbus,  Melrose. 

Roumanian  -     -     - 

-     Rivington  Street. 

Russian    -     -     -    - 

-     Seward  Park,  Rivington  Street,  Hamilton 

Fish   Park,  96th  Street,   Chatham 

Square. 

Slovak      -     -     -     . 

■     Webster. 

Spanish    -     -     -     - 

■     Jacksdn  Square. 

Swedish   -     -     -     - 

•     125th  Street.  58th  Street. 

Servian    -     -     -     - 

■     Muhlenberg. 

Yiddish    -     -     -     - 

-     Rivington  Street,  Seward  Park,  Hamilton 

Fish  Park,  Aguilar,  Tremont. 

Interbranch  Loan.  A  book  in  any  one  of  the 
Branches  is  available  to  a  reader  at  any  other  Branch 
through    a    system    of    interbranch    loans. 

Reading  Rooms.  The  total  attendance  in  the  adult 
reading  rooms  in  the  Branch  Libraries,  during  1915. 
was  1,224,526.  The  greatest  use  of  reading  rooms  is 
at  two  of  the   Branches  on   the   lower   East   Side. 

[  57  ] 


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Library  for  the  Blind.  The  Library  for  the  Bhnd, 
although  under  control  of  the  Circulation  Department, 
has  its  headquarters  and  reading  room  in  the  Central 
Building.     Its  work  has  been  described  on  page  22. 

Travelling  Libraries.  From  the  office  of  the  Trav- 
elling Libraries,  in  the  Central  Building,  collections  of 
books   are    sent   to  communities   and   homes   in   outlying 


MOTT  HAVEN  BRANCH 

districts  of  the  city;  to  churches,  Sunday  schools,  set- 
tlements, clubs,  stores,  factories,  —  in  fact,  to  any  com- 
munity or  institution  not  readily  served  by  a  Branch 
Library.  There  are  about  800  stations  with  Travelling 
Libraries.  The  circulation  through  these  agencies,  in 
1915,  numbered  962,355  books.  Travelling  Library 
stations  are  established  in  mercantile  houses,  in  Fire 
and  Police   stations,   fire  boats,   Federal,   State,  and  City 

[  59  ] 


I30ND  STREET  BRANCH 
(The  Oldest  Branch) 


Department  offices,  armories,  ships  of  the  coast  guard, 
vacation  playgrounds,  and  summer  camps.  Books  are 
sent  in  this  manner  to  prisons,  workhouses,  elementary 
and  high  schools,  hospitals,  and  army  posts  in  Xew 
York  City. 

Work  with  Children.     The  work  with  children  com- 
prises a  great  deal  besides  the  maintenance  of  children's 


TRAVELLING  LIBRARY  IN  A  MERCANTILE  HOUSE 


rooms  and  the  circulation  of  children's  books.  In  1915, 
the  total  circulation  of  books  to  children,  including  the 
figures  recorded  by  the  juvenile  work  of  the  Travelling 
Libraries,  was  4,415,794,  or  forty-two  per  cent,  of  the 
total  circulation  of  the  Library.  The  Library  works 
with  the  schools  and  museums.  It  holds  special  exhi- 
bitions, meetings,  and  celebrations  of  interest  to  chil- 
dren and  to   parents.      Between   fifty  and   sixty   reading 

[  61  ] 


clubs  for  the  older  boys  and  girls  meet  at  the  Branch 
Libraries.  Groups  of  children  gather  in  the  Branches 
from   November  to  May,   to  attend  "story  hours." 

Lectures  and  meetings.  The  Branches  are  used  as 
meeting  places  by  literary,  educational  and  social  organ- 
izations and  clubs.  Assembly  rooms  in  the  Branches 
are  open  for  any  meeting  of  an  instructive  or  liter- 
ary nature,  provided  that  no  admission  fee  is  charged, 
and  that  nothing  of  a  political  or  sectarian  character  is 
discussed.  Many  classes  of  foreigners  learning  English 
meet  regularly  in  the  Branch  Libraries. 


AT  A   STORY   HOUR 


HISTORICAL   SKETCH   OF  THE   LIBRARY 


The  New  York  Public  Library,  as  it  exists  to-day. 
is  the  result  of  the  generosity  of  a  few  private  citizens, 
combined  with  the  efforts  of  the  City  itself.  Its  cor- 
porate existence,  in  its  present  form,  began  on  Mav  2Z, 


LIliKARV'S   IXSTKUCTOK   TEACHING  THE   LILIM)   TO    UKAD 


1895,  by  the  consolidation  of:  "The  Trustees  of  the 
Astor  Library,"  "The  Trustees  of  the  Lenox  Library," 
and  "The   Tilden   Trust." 

The  Astor  Library,  originally  incorporated  in  1849. 
was  founded  by  John  Jacob  Astor.  His  gifts,  together 
with    those    of    his    sons    and    grandsons,    amounted    to 

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about  $1,700,000.  Washington  Irving  was  the  first 
President  of  the  Library,  and  Joseph  Green  Cogswell 
its  first  Superintendent,  or  Librarian.  In  its  building 
on  Lafayette  Place  (now  Lafayette  Street )  it  was  for 
many  years  one  of  the  literary  landmarks  of  New  York. 


SU.MMER  Al-'l"KkX()()\   STOKV   HOUR 

At  the  time  of  its  consolidation  with  The  New  York 
Public  Library  it  had  an  endowment  fund  of  about 
$941,000,  which  produced  an  annual  income  of  about 
$47,000.  It  contained  then  266.147  volumes.  It  was 
solely  a  reference  library.  —  the  funds  were  given  with 
the  understanding  that  the  books  should  not  be  lent  for 
use  outside  the  building. 


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The  Lenox  Library.  James  Lenox,  one  of  Amer- 
ica's greatest  book  collectors,  was  born  in  New  York 
City  in  1800  and  died  there  in  1880.  In  1870,  by  the 
incorporation  of  the  Lenox  Library,  he  gave  to  the  citv 
of  his  birth  his  books  and  art  treasures.  The  l)uilding, 
which  formerly  stood  on  Fifth  Avenue  between  70th  and 
71st  Streets,  was  erected  for  the  Library  and  opened  to 
the  public,  a  part  at  a  time.  ])eginning  in   1876.     At  the 


VISIT  OF  A  CLAS.S  FROM  A  PUBLIC  SCHOOL 

time  of  consolidation  the  Library  owned  its  building, 
an  endowment  fund  of  $505,500,  which  yielded  an  annual 
income  of  about  $20,500;  and  about  86.000  volumes.  This 
also  was  a  reference  library,  not  a  circulating  librarv. 

The  Tilden  Trust.  Samuel  Jones  Tilden  was  born 
in  New  Lebanon.  New  York,  in  1814.  He  died  in  Xew 
York  City  in  1886.  By  the  final  settlement  of  his  estate 
the  City  received  his  private  library  and  an  endowment 
fund  of  about  $2,000,000,  for  library  purposes. 

[  67  ] 


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Consolidation.  In  the  agreement  for  consolidation 
it  was  provided  that  the  name  of  the  new  corpora- 
tion should  l)e  "The  New  York  Public  Library,  Astor, 
Lenox  and  Tilden  Foundations";  that  the  number  of 
its  trustees  should  be  twenty-one,  to  be  selected  from 
the    thirty-three    members    of    the    separate    boards;    and 


TRAVELLING  LIBRARY  IN  FIRE-ENGINL;  HOUSE 


that  "the  said  new  corporation  shall  establish  and  main- 
tain a  free  public  library  and  reading  room  in  the  City 
of  New  York,  with  such  branches  as  may  be  deemed 
advisable,  and  shall  continue  and  promote  the  several 
objects  and  purposes  set  forth  in  the  respective  acts  of 
incorporation  of  'The  Trustees  of  the  Astor  Library,' 
'The  Trustees  of  the  Lenox  Library,'  and  'The  Tilden 
Trust.'  " 

[  69  ] 


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Later,  another  member  was  added  to  the  Board 
of  Trustees,  and  three  municipal  officials  were  made 
members  ex  officio. 

The  first  Director  of  The  New  York  Public  Library 
was  Dr.  John  Shaw  Billings,  who  served  from  1896  until 
his  death  in  1913.  He  rendered  distinguished  services, 
especially  in  the  organization  of  the  new  Library  and  in 
the  arrangement  of  the  Central  Building. 

New  York  Free  Circulating  Library.  In  1901  the 
New  York  Free  Circulating  Library  was  consolidated 
with  the  new  system.  This  Library  had  then  eleven 
Branches  and  owned  about    160,000  volumes. 

Other  Circulating  Libraries.  In  1901,  the  St.  Agnes 
Free  Library  and  the  Washington  Heights  Free  Library 
were  also  added  to  the  system.  The  New  York  Free 
Circulating  Library  for  the  Blind  and  the  Aguilar  Free 
Library,  with  four  Branches,  were  added  in  1903.  In 
1904,  the  Harlem  Free  Library,  Tottenville  Free  Li- 
brary, the  University  Settlement  Library  at  Rivington 
and  Eldridge  Streets,  and  the  Webster  Free  Library 
followed.  Also  in  1904  the  five  Branches  of  the  Ca- 
thedral Free  Circulating  Library  became  part  of  the  new 
corporation. 

Carnegie  Branches.  In  1901  Mr.  Andrew  Carnegie 
offered  Greater  New  York  $5,200,000  for  the  construction 
and  equipment  of  free  circulating  libraries,  on  condition 
that  the  City  provide  the  land  and  agree  to  maintain  the 
libraries  when  built.  The  offer  was  accepted,  and  thirty- 
seven  Branch  Libraries  are  now  housed  in  buildings 
erected  with  that  part  of  Mr.  Carnegie's  gift  assigned 
to  The  New  York  Public  Library.  A  directory  of  all 
the  Branch  Liljraries  may  be  found  on  page  77. 

Management.  The  corporation  is  managed  by  a 
Board    of    twenty-five    Trustees,    including    the     Ma\or, 

[  71  ] 


Comptroller,  and  President  of  the  Board  of  Aldermen 
ex  officio.  The  names  of  the  Trustees  are  given  on 
page  76.  The  Trustees  hold  office  continuously,  and 
vacancies  are  filled  by  vote  of  the  remaining  Trustees. 
No  Trustee  receives  any  compensation  for  his  services. 
The  immediate  management  of  the  Library  is  entrusted 
to  the  Director.  The  Staff  numbers  between  twelve  and 
thirteen  hundred  persons,  including  those  in  the  Central 


BOYS'  CLUB;  YORKVILLE  BRANCH 

Building  and  in  the  Branches.  As  the  buildings  are 
open  between  twelve  and  thirteen  hours  a  day  the  Staff 
works  in  two  shifts.  Somewhat  less  than  half  of  the 
Staff   are   employed   in   the    Central    Building. 

Benefactors.  A  complete  list  of  the  Library's  ben- 
efactors, besides  the  three  founders,  can  more  appropri- 
ately be  given  elsewhere.  In  addition  to  Mr.  Carnegie's 
gift,  one  bequest  should  be  noted  here:  that  of  John  S. 
Kennedy,  who  in  1909  left  about  $3,000,000  to  the  Library, 
without  conditions. 

[  72  ] 


Work  of  the  Library.  This  historical  sketch  may 
help  to  make  clear  the  organization  and  work  of  the 
Library  as  it  is  carried  on  to-day.  It  is  a  free  reference 
library  combined  with  a  free  circulating  library.  The 
books  in  the  Reference  Department  (in  the  Central 
Building)  which  came  from  either  the  Astor  or  the 
Lenox  Libraries,  and  those  which  have  been  added 
since  the  consolidation,  from  the  endowments  of  those 
Libraries,  must  necessarily  be  for  reference  use  onlv. 
The  Astor  and  Lenox  Foundations  give  the  Trustees  of 
The  New  York  Public  Library  no  option  in  this  matter. 
About  one  million  books  in  the  Circulation  Department 
(the   Branch   Libraries)    are   lent  for  home   use. 


KIiNGSURIDGE  BRANCH 


NEW  YORK  PUBLIC  LIBRARY 


FIRST  FLOOR  PLAN 


FLOOR  PLANS,  CENTRAL  BUILDING 


f  74 


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NEW  YORK  PUBLIC  UBRARV 


i^«H  SECOND  FLOOR  t-LAN 


NEW   YORK   PUBLIC   LIBRARY 


THIRD  FXOOP   FLAN 


FLOOR   PLANS,  CENTRAL  BUILDING 


75    ] 


TRUSTEES    AND    OFFICERS    OF  THE    LIBRARY 


William  W.  Appleton 
Andrew  Carnegie 
Cleveland  H.  Dodge 
John  Murphy  Farley 
Samuel  Greenbaum 
Frederic  R.  Halsey 
John  Henry  Hammond 
Lewis  Cass  Ledyard 
J.  P.  Morgan 
Morgan  J.  O'Brien 
Stephen  H.  Olin 


Henry  Fairfield  Osborn 

William  Barclay  Parsons 

George  L.  Rives 

Elihu  Root 

Charles  Howland  Russell 

Edward  W.  Sheldon 

George  W.  Smith 

I.  N.  Phelps  Stokes 

Frederick  Sturges 

Henry  W.  Taft 

Payne  Whitney 


John  Purroy  Mitchel,  Mayor  of  the  City  of  New  York,  ex  officio 

William  A.  Prendergast, 

Comptroller  of  the  City  of  New  York,  ex  officio 

Frank  L.  Dowlixg,  President  of  the  Board  of  Aldermen,  ex  officio 


OFFICERS 

President,  George  L.  Rives 
First  Vice-President,  Lewis  Cass  Ledyard 
Second  Vice-President,  Elihu  Root 
Secretary,  Charles  Howland  Russell 
Treasurer,  Edward  W.  Sheldon 
Director  of  the  Library,  Edwin  H.  Anderson 


Chief  Reference  Librarian,  H.  M.  Lydenberg 

Chief  of  the  Circulation  Department,  Benjamin  Adams 


[  76  ] 


BRANCH    LIBRARIES 


With  the  exception  of  the  Central  Building,  the  names  of  the  Branches 
in  Manhattan  and  The  Bronx  are  arranged  as  they  are  situated,  from  south 
to   north. 

Names  marked  with  a  star  (*)  are  of  Branches  occupying  Carnegie 
buildings. 

MANHATTAN 

Central   Building.     Fifth  Avenue  and  42nd   Street 

Central  Circulation 

Children's  Room 

Library  for  the  Blind 

Travelling  Libraries 
Chatham  Square.*     33  East  Broadway 
Seward  Park.*     192  East  Broadway 
RiviNGTON  Street,*  61 

Hamilton  Fish  Park.*    388  East  Houston  Street 
Hudson  Park.*    66  Leroy  Street 
Bond  Street,  49.     Near  the  Bowery 
Ottendorfer.     135  Second  Avenue.     Near  8th  Street 
Tompkins  Square.*    331  East  10th  Street 
Jackson  Square.    251  West  13th  Street 
Epiphany.*     228  East  23rd  Street 
Muhlenberg.*    209  West  23rd  Street 
St.  Gabriel's  Park.*     303  East  36th  Street 
40th  Street,*  457  West 
Cathedral.     123  East  50th  Street 
Columbus.*     742  Tenth  Avenue.     Near  51st  Street 
58th  Street,*  121  East 
67th  Street,*  328  East 

Riverside.*     190  Amsterdam  Avenue.     Near  69th  Street 
Webster.*     1465  Avenue  A.     Near  78th  Street 
YoRKviLLE.*    222  East  79th  Street 

St.  Agnes.*    444  Amsterdam  Avenue.     Near  81st  Street 
96th  Street,*  112  East 
Bloomingdale.     206  West  100th  Street 
Aguilar.*     174  East  110th  Street 
115th  Street,*  203  West 
Harlem  Library.*    9  West  124th  Street 
125th  Street,*  224  East 
George  Bruce.     78  Manhattan  Street 
135th  Street,*  103  West 
Hamilton  Grange.*     503  West  145th  Street 
Washington  Heights.*    1000  St.  Nicholas  Ave.    Cor.  of  160th  St. 
Fort  Washington.*    535  West  179th  Street 

THE  BRONX 
MoTT  Haven.*    321  East  140th  Street 
Woodstock.*     759  East  160th  Street 

Melrose.*    910  Morris  Avenue.     Corner  of  162nd  Street. 
High  Bridge.*     78  West  168th  Street 
Morrisania.*    610  East  169tii  Street 

Tremont.*     1866  Washington  Avenue.     Corner  of  176th  Street 
Kingsbridge.*    3041  Kingsbridge  Avenue.     Near  230th  Street 

RICHMOND   (STATEN   ISLAND) 
St.  George.*     5  Central  Avenue.     Tompkinsville  P.  O. 
Port  Richmond.*     75  Bennett  Street 
Stapleton.*     132  Canal  Street 
ToTTENviLLE.*     7430  Amboy  Road 

[  77  ] 


PUBLICATIONS  OF  THE   LIBRARY 


A  reader  of  this  Handbook  may  wish  to  know 
about  some  other  sources  of  information  concerning  the 
Library.  For  that  reason  a  few  of  its  publications  are 
named  here.  They  may  be  consulted  in  the  Central 
Building  or  any  of  the  Branches. 

Annual  Report  of  The  New  York  Public  Library. 
(A  limited  number  are  sent  to  institutions  or  private 
persons  upon  request.) 

Bulletin  of  The  New  York  Public  Library.  Pub- 
lished monthly.  Chiefly  devoted  to  the  Reference  De- 
partment. Bibliography,  news  of  the  Library,  reprints 
of  manuscripts,  descriptions  of  new  accessions.  One 
dollar  a  year;  current  single  numbers  for  ten  cents. 
Back  numbers  at  advanced  rates. 

Branch  Library  News.  Monthly  publication  of  the 
Circulation  Department.  Lists  of  new  books,  reading 
lists,  articles  about  books,  etc.  Given  free  at  the  Branches. 
By  mail  free  to  libraries  and  other  public  institutions. 
Otherwise,  twenty-five  cents  a  year. 

Facts  for  the  Public.  A  small  pamphlet  of  general 
information  about  the  Library.  Much  of  its  contents  is 
also  contained  in  this  Handbook.     Given  free. 

Central  Building  Guide.  A  small  pamphlet.  Price 
five  cents. 


[  78  ] 


THE    CROTON    RESERVOIR 


As  the  Central  Building  of  the  Library  stands  on  part  of  the  site 
of  the  old  Croton  Reservoir,  it  is  fitting  to  reprint  here  the  inscriptions 
on  two  tablets  whicli  were  formerly  affixed  to  the  Reservoir. 

One  tablet  is  now  on  the  first  floor  of  the  Central  Building,  on  the 
wall  of  the  south  or  40tli  Street  corridor.     The  inscription  is: 

HISTORICAL  AND  DESCRIPTIVE  ACCOUNT 
OF  THE  CROTON  AQUEDUCT 

The  Law  authorizing  the  construction  of  the  work,  passed  May 
2nd,   1834. 

STEPHEN  ALLEN.  WILLIAM  W.  FOX,  SAUL  ALLEY, 
CHARLES  DUSENBERRY  and  BENJAMIN  M.  BROWN  were  appointed 
Cominissio}iers. 

During  the  year  1834,  two  surveys  were  made  —  one  by  DAVID 
B.  DOUGLASS    and    the    other    by    JOHN    MARTINEAU. 

In  April,  1835,  a  majority  of  the  Electors  of  the  City  voted  in 
favour  of  constructing  the  Aqueduct. 

On  the  7th  May  following,  the  Common  Council  "instructed  the 
Commissioners  to  proceed  with  the  work." 

DAVID  B.  DOUGLASS  was  employed  as  Chief  Engineer  until 
October,   1836;  when  he  was  succeeded  by  JOHN  B.  JERVIS. 

In  March,  1837,  BENJAMIN  M.  BROWN  resigned,  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  THOMAS  T.  WOODRUFF. 

In  March,  1840,  the  before  mentioned  Commissioners  were  suc- 
ceeded by  SAMUEL  STEVENS,  JOHN  D.  WARD,  ZEBEDEE  RING, 
BENJAMIN  BIRDSALL    and    SAMUEL  R.  CHILDS. 

The  work  was  commenced  in  May,  1837.  On  the  22nd  June,  1842, 
the  Aqueduct  was  so  far  completed  that  it  received  the  Water  from  the 
Croton  River  Lake;  on  the  27th  the  Water  entered  the  Receiving  Reservoir 
and  was  admitted  into  this  Reservoir  on  the  succeeding  4th  of  July. 

The  DAM  at  the  Croton  River  is  40  feet  high,  and  the  overfall 
251   feet   in   length. 

The  CROTON  RIVER  LAKE  is  five  miles  long,  and  covers  an 
area  of   400   acres. 

The  AQUEDUCT,  from  the  DAM  to  this  Reservoir,  is  AQYi   miles     ■ 
long,   and   will    deliver    in    twenty-four   hours   60,000,000    imperial    gallons. 

The  capacity  of  the  Receiving  Reservoir  is  150,000,000  gallons, 
and  of  this  reservoir  20,000,000. 

The  cost,  to  and  including  this  Reservoir,  nearly  $9,000,000. 


In  the  pavement  of  the  south  court  is  a  tablet  with  this  inscription: 
CROTON  AQUEDUCT. 
DISTRIBUTING  RESERVOIR. 
COMMISSIONERS.  ENGINEERS. 

SAMUEL  STEVENS  JOHN   B.  JER\T.s.  CHIEF. 

ZEBEDEE  RING  ""  ALLEN.  PRIN'   ASSIST. 

JOHN  D.  WARD  ?•  HASTIE.  RESIDENT. 

BENJ»  BIRDSALL  BUILDERS. 

SAMUEL  R.  CHILDS  THOMSON  PRICE  &  SON. 

COMMENCED  A.  D.   MDCCCXXXVIIL       COMPLETED  A.  D.  MDCCCXLII. 

I    79  1 


TWENTY -FIVE  THOUSAND  COPIES 
OF  THIS  FIRST  EDITION  OF  THE 
HANDBOOK  WERE  PRINTED  AT 
THE  NEW  YORK  PUBLIC  LIBRARY 
IN    JUNE    1916 


UNIVERSITY  OF  SOUTHERN  CALIFORNIA 


This  book  should  be  returned  on  or  before  the  last 
date  stamped  below.  A  fine  of  10  cents  per  day,  which 
increases  to  $1.00  on  the  eighth  day,  is  assessed  on 
books  not  returned  when  due. 

DATE    DUE 


ISM— 6.51— Gl 


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